The Pretenders: Alone
The Pretenders: Alone
Label: BMG Rights Management (UK) Ltd
2016 release, the first new album in eight years from Chrissie Hynde and Co. Originally intended as s follow-up to Hynde’s 2014 solo album Stockholm, Alone evolved into a bonafide Pretenders album although she is the only original band member to appear on the album. Alone was recorded with the Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach at his Easy Eye Studio in Nashville. The album features Hynde on vocals and guitar joined by bassist Dave Roe (Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, Sturgill Simpson), pedal steel guitarist Russ Pahl (Blake Shelton), guitarist Kenny Vaughan (Lana Del Rey), keyboardist Leon Michels, and drummer Richard Swift.
Alone track listing:
- Alone Song
- Roadie Man
- Gotta Wait
- Never Be Together
- Let’s Get Lost
- Chord Lord
- Blue Eyed Sky
- Be The Man That You Are
- One More Day
- I Hate Myself
- Death Is Not Enough
- Holy Commotion
Alone– the band’s 11th studio album- was recorded by Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys at his Easy Eye Studios in Nashville, and features a bevy of the city’s best studio musicians. Legendary guitarist Duane Eddy appears on the track Never Be Together. Also featured are Leon Michaels and Richard Swift, Auerbach’s bandmates in his side project The Arcs. This album bears the stamp of Auerbach’s trademark bluesy sound. His influence is heard in the drums, the guitars and the old school keyboards.
As the title implies, aloneness is a recurring theme. It’s held in high regard in the opening track Alone Song– “I like bein’ alone”- and further explored in Roadie Man, a song about being in love with a man who’s “in love with the road.”
Regardless of its praise of solitude, this record is heavy on love songs. Hynde wears her heart on her sleeve, professing deep and heartfelt adoration- “forever I will treasure you”- in songs like Blue Eyed Sky, Be The Man That You Are and Death Is Not Enough.
Chord Lord is a classic Pretenders rock’n’roll song and sure to be a favorite. Guitars chug and drums crash as Hynde delivers a gutsy vocal performance with a whole lot of “umph.” The song’s satisfying, guttural vocalizations echo 1982’s Back On The Chain Gang.
On this stellar new album, Chrissie Hynde transitions easily from rockers to ballads as guitars ring out with reverb, keyboards hum and pedal steel sounds its lonely cry like a train passing in the distance.
Must-hear tracks: Alone Song, Let’s Get Lost, Chord Lord.
The Pretenders are currently touring North America with Stevie Nicks.
THE PRETENDERS NORTH AMERICAN TOUR
25 – Phoenix AZ – Talking Stick Arena
27 – Denver, CO – Pepsi Center
29 – Houston, TX – Toyota Center
30 – Dallas, TX – American Airlines Center
31 – Austin, TX – Austin City Limits*
NOVEMBER
2 – Tampa, FL – Amalie Arena
4 – Fort Lauderdale, FL – BB&T Center
6 – Atlanta, GA – Phillips Arena
7 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena
10 – Charlotte, NC – Time Warner Cable Arena
12 – Columbia, SC – Colonial Life Arena
13 – Durham, NC – Durham Performing Arts Center*
14 – Washington, DC – Verizon Center
15 – Boston, MA – TD Garden
17 – Red Bank, NJ – Count Basie Theater*
19 – Bethlehem, PA – Sands Bethlehem Event
20 – Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center
23 – Grand Rapids, MI – Van Andel Arena
25 – Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun Arena
26 – Akron, OH – EJ Thomas Hall*
27 – Detroit, MI – The Palace of Auburn Hills
29 – Toronto, ONT – Air Canada Centre
DECEMBER
1 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
3 – Chicago, IL – United Center
5 – Lincoln, NE – Pinnacle Bank Arena
6 – St. Paul, MN – Xcel Energy Center
9 – Vancouver, BC – Pepsi Live
11 – Seattle, WA – Key Arena
12 – Portland, OR – Roseland*
13 – Sacramento, CA – Golden 1 Center
14 – San Jose, CA – SAP Center
17 – Las Vegas, NV – Park Theatre
18 – Inglewood, CA – The Forum
All dates with Stevie Nicks except where noted “*” (headlining).